Monday, February 28, 2011

Feel Like a Number

OK.....so it is February 28th....and I didn't win an Oscar even though the Best Documentary Feature went to a film called "Inside Job" (no relation). But I did have appointments with my endocrinologists and nephrologist and actually got good reports from both.

  • I lost some weight.
  • My A1c was on target at 6.7%.
  • Fructoseamine was just a tad bit high at 329.
  • Blood pressure was 104/63
  • LDL and HDL cholesterol were both good.
  • My creatinine levels, the tell-tale indicator of kidney function, was 3.04% which is a bit better than it was at my last appointment.
  • My Glomerular Filtration Rate was 22 and this was a 2 point increase over the last test, which is good.(GFR): Your GFR tells how much kidney function you have. It may be estimated from your blood level of creatinine. If your GFR falls below 30 you need to see a kidney disease specialist.
    A GFR below 15 indicates that you need to start  treatments like dialysis or have a kidney transplant.
And so......when I asked the doctor just what has precipitated this positive turn in numbers he credited it to my staying active, staying hydrated, eating well (I try), maintaining good blood sugar levels and keeping my blood pressure in check. He told me this at my last appointment and I've been really trying so it's kinda nice to see a bit of a payoff. He also tells me that all this good news can't put off the inevitable, but rather it is
"buying me time." 

Although good living promotes good numbers I also credit prayers, good vibes, and the like from all of you, so Thanks for that!

As in most issues, good numbers make for a good day. It may be a mind game - as my friend John Barr said once:
 "The balances are all the same - the only difference is where you put the decimal point."

The decimal points fell in my favor today and I'll take it.